The Mighty Half-square Triangle

Six different ways to make HSTs, with size options

One of the most frequently used

components in pieced blocks is the Half-
square Triangle (HST). These are squares
made up of two 90 degree triangles.

There are many ways to make HSTs – see

below to find the technique that works
best for you.

Two-at-a-time Technique 1
Both the “Two-at-a-time” techniques are perfect for very scrappy quilts or when you need just a few in specific color combinations.

1 Using measurements from

your cutting chart, cut each
square diagonally from corner to
2 Each square will yield two
triangles. 3 Layer light and dark
triangles right sides together.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the long
corner using a ruler and a rotary
cutter. You can draw the diagonal
line in pencil first if you’re not
confident holding your ruler
in place.

Handle all your HSTs with care! Because they’re cut on the bias, HSTs are vulnerable to stretching and
distortion. Carolyn Forster, author of Hexagon Happenings and The Handmade Quilt, recommends that you
heavily starch your HSTs to stabilize the bias edges.
 Two-at-a-time Technique 2

1 Using measurements from

your cutting chart, draw a
diagonal line from corner to corner draw pencil in lines
on the wrong side of the lighter
square. Layer a light and dark
square, right sides together.
2 Sew a 1/4" seam on both sides
of the drawn line. You can
3 Cut on the drawn line.
4 Press the seams open or
towards the dark fabric
according to your preference. Trim
for guidance. off the fabric “tails.”

Save time and thread with chain piecing. Begin each chain with a leader scrap of fabric to prevent your
squares from being pulled into your feed dogs and sew up multiple HSTs in one productive sitting. If you’re
confident, you can even chain trim your squares while separating them.

Four-at-a-time Technique
If your pattern calls for many HSTs of the same color combination, this method is quick and easy.

1 Use two square precuts or

fabric that you have cut into 2 Sew a 1/4" seam all the
way around your square.
squares with measurements taken You can draw your sewing lines
3 Cut your square twice from
corner to corner. Be careful
not to move your square – a rotary
4 Press the seams open or
towards the dark fabric
according to your preference. Trim
from your cutting chart. Place right for guidance or use your 1/4" mat helps here. off the fabric “tails.”
sides together. seam foot.

If you’re using the Four-at-a-time technique, you can sew all the way around the edges of each square by
keeping your needle down and rotating your square. Alternatively, you can sew each edge one at a time – it
doesn’t matter because the corners will be cut off when you trim your tails.
 The Magic 8 Technique
Here is another quick-and-easy technique that provides eight HSTs of the same color combination.

1 Use two square precuts or

fabrics cut in measurements
taken from your cutting chart.
Pencil in two lines from corner to
corner on the lighter fabric and
then place right sides together.
2 Sew a 1/4" seam on both sides
of the drawn lines. You can 3Cut your square from side
to side, from top to bottom
draw your sewing lines for guidance and then from both diagonals. Be
4 Press the seams open or
towards the dark fabric
according to your preference. Trim
or use your 1/4" machine foot. careful to not move your square – a off the fabric “tails.”
rotary mat helps here.

The most beautiful blocks are the ones with perfectly matched seams! Not only should you accurately sew
a 1/4" seam, you should alsos make sure that your Half-square Triangles are perfaectly square. Many quilters
like to trim them with square-up trim tools.

Sewing from Strips Method

5½

5½
This is a great way to use up any jelly roll strips that you have in your stash. Careful cutting should yield 26 HSTs per strip pair.
4½

4½
3½

3½
2½

2½
1½
1½
1½
1½
2½

2½
3½

3½
4½

4½

1 2 3
5½

5½

Place two strips of fabric right Line up your ruler so that the Flip your ruler to the opposite seam and cut again. Repeat
sides together and sew 1/4" marks for your unfinished down the length of your strip.

4
down the long edges. square align with the seam. In the Press the seams open or towards the dark fabric according
illustration above, we’re making to your preference. Trim off the fabric “tails.”
2 1/2" squares (for 2" finished
HSTs). Trim around your ruler.

What size square should you start with to make a finished HST? It’s all about geometry. One rule of thumb
is that you just need to add 7/8" to your finished HST to know your starting size.
 Using HST Paper
There are lots of good reasons to use HST paper. Perhaps you need to whip up many HSTs in the same color combination or you’re
concerned about the accuracy of your 1/4" inch seams. Using HST paper, which is essentially foundation piecing, provides accurate seams
while creating many identical Half-square Triangles.
There are many commercially available HST papers, including some on convenient rolls . Landauer Publishing has FREE downloadable and
printable HST paper here.

1 Place starched fabrics right

sides together. 2 Pin your HST paper to the
fabrics in a hopscotch pattern, 3 Use a trim tool and scissors or
a rotary cutter to trim off excess
avoiding dashed lines. Sew along the fabric and then cut along the solid
4 Carefully fold the paper back at
the seam to crease it and then
tear off. Press the seams open or
dashed 1/4" seam lines, backstitching lines. towards the dark fabric according to
at the beginning and end to make your preference. Trim off the fabric
sure that you loosen your paper when “tails.”
you tear it off.

An advantage of commercial HST paper is that it is printed on thin paper making it easier to tear off. If
printing your own, use as thin a paper as your printer will allow. Decreasing your stitch length can also make
paper removal easier. It is also helpful to adjust your thread tension to account for the paper’s thickness.
Bonus: No Math! What size should your HST be?
Generally, all you need to do is add 7/8" to your desired finished size. Many quilters add an additional 1/4" when they plan to trim
their HSTs with a square-up tool. Another exception is when you’re using the Magic 8 Technique, which doubles your sizes – see
below.

Half-square Triangle Cutting Guide: Two-at-a-time and Four-at-a-time Techniques

Cut Size Finished Size Cut Size Finished Size Cut Size Finished Size
2-7/8" 2" 6-7/8" 6" 10-7/8" 10"
3-3/8" 2-1/2" 7-3/8" 6-1/2" 11-3/8" 10-1/2"
3-7/8" 3" 7-7/8" 7" 11-7/8" 11"
4-3/8" 3-1/2" 8-3/8" 7-1/2" 12-3/8" 11-1/2"
4-7/8" 4" 8-7/8" 8" 12-7/8" 12"
5-3/8" 4-1/2" 9-3/8" 8-1/2" 13-3/8" 12-1/2"
5-7/8" 5" 9-7/8" 9" 13-7/8" 13"
6-3/8" 5-1/2" 10-3/8" 9-1/2" 14-3/8" 13-1/2"

Half-square Triangle Cutting Guide: Magic 8 Technique

Cut Size Finished Size Cut Size Finished Size Cut Size Finished Size
5-3/4" 2" 11-3/4" 5" 17-3/4" 8"
6-3/4" 2-1/2" 12-3/4" 5-1/2" 18-3/4" 8-1/2"
7-3/4" 3" 13-3/4" 6" 19-3/4" 9"
8-3/4" 3-1/2" 14-3/4" 6-1/2" 20-3/4" 9-1/2"
9-3/4" 4" 15-3/4" 7" 21-3/4" 10"
10-3/4" 4-1/2" 16-3/4" 7-1/2" 22-3/4" 10-1/2"

Looking for more tips, techniques, and

quiltmaking know-how?
Visit LandauerPub.com
for the best!